Mojácar's Art Museum

Angel Medina was in Jerez de la Frontera recently, accompanying his brother-in-law, the artist José Morera ('El Hortelano'), at a prize giving officiated by His Royal Highness Don Felipe the Prince of Asturias. The prize, also given to Julio Iglesias the singer and others, was the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes.
Sr Medina, who intends to open the 'Museo de Arte de la Ciudad de Mojácar' art museum shortly, hopes to begin with an exhibition by El Hortelano. He has asked the Town Hall to make contact with the Casa Real to see if a visit by the Prince and Princess to perhaps attend the opening ceremony would be feasable.

Sr Medina also visited Madrid earlier this week to meet La Baronesa Von Thyssen, who had that same day opened an exhibition in the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
(Paseo del Prado 8, Madrid) called 'Impressionist Gardens', to plan future exhibitions in the soon-to-be opened Mojácar museum.

News

Some news from Angel Medina.

Cranes. There now remain just two cranes in Marina de la Torre, two in Macenas and the one in the grounds of what was Felipe San Bernabé’s. We are in communication with the owner about this last one.
The IBI (Rates) can be satisfied in several payments. You must ask in the local tax office in Vera before November 20th. These fractioned payments will need to be paid through automatic bank transfer. Ciudadanos Europeos can provide the appropriate forms by mail or by hand.
The street outside Correos. This street is always full with double-parked cars or parked on the pavements. I am preparing an inquiry into finding ways of fixing this problem.
The Padrón. It is important to be registered before the end of 2010 to be able to vote in next year’s local elections. We shall continue to be available outside the Mojácar Town Hall on Tuesdays at 12.00 noon.
The Palm Tree Bug (Picudo Rojo). A decree from the Department of Agriculture of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA Nº 67 April 8th 2010) states (briefly) that the plague of this insect was recognised in 1997 and a special permit was issued then to transport palm trees and rules were laid down to burn infected ones. New rules have now been introduced, including an order to notify infestations to the Delegación Provincial de Agricultura y Pesca and to allow inspectors onto one’s land as necessary. One must follow cures and measures as the Dept of Agriculture orders. One must control pruning/cutting and avoid planting new palms in infected areas. There are, however, no offers of direct help or subsidies to owners. Town halls have the obligation to alert the Department of Agriculture of suspected infestations, to report companies that market these plants illegally or without proper regard to the rules, and to oversee the destruction of infected plants. The owners of these infected palms have the obligation to treat them with special chemical products (available from plant stores), follow instructions from the Department of Agriculture, to not make any transplants without permission, and eliminate any dying or dead palms following instructions from the Dept of Agriculture. And all on the pocket of the owner! Then there’s the subject of fines. What a shambles!

Notes from the October Meeting

From The Entertainer Online: 'The recent meeting of Mojácar's premier political party, Ciudadanos Europeos (the only party in Mojácar that bothers to have meetings) began with the news that some residents of Arboleas are so upset with their ruling PSOE (and dismayed by the prospect of the previous mayor's bid to return as 'PSA'), that they have decided to start their own independent branch of Ciudadanos Europeos de Arboleas. The provincial paper, La Voz de Almería, gets some of the detail wrong, but the basic point is made: the European foreigners are sick of the local greed and corruption of 'clan politics''.

The Voz article in fact suggests that we are in contact with some other groups from other towns with similar concerns.

The meeting on Saturday also had more pedestrian subjects to deal with - which is right for a local party concerned with local affairs. The first subject raised by Angel Medina was the confirmation that three Mojácar builder's cranes have now been retired, including the one that disfigured the picture-postcard approach to the pueblo for so long, and that a further two will be gone by Christmas. Perhaps the biggest news was that the famous ring-road (meant to have sped through La Paratá to 'take pressure off the beach avenida' - but in fact to allow heavy lorries from Carboneras easier access to the Murcia motorway) has now been finally discarded and the expropriated land involved has been returned to previous owners. The Town Hall is studying the proposal to widen the existing road that runs (well, 'walks' anyway) behind the gasolinera and hotels.
Some of Mojácar's larger infrastructure, built and financed by the Junta de Andalucía, remains closed. The sports centre and swimming pool for example, would need too much funding to run as a municipal project and tenders are out for private companies to take on the management. The town's long-awaited art museum will however be open by Christmas.
A new project, Mojácar Ciclista, starts this autumn. Based at the Oasis Tropical Hotel, and promoted by Thomas Cook, this is a plan to bring cyclists to Mojácar and offer them a series of interesting routes, together with a workshop and full support at the hotel. The project starts just in Belgium, and has received favourable interest. This type of tourism, Angel Medina told us, is far better than the late-night young boozers from Vera-and-beyond tourism which generates so much mess, noise and potential tragedy. His department would continue to support quality tourism, but without encouraging the 'any-and-all' proposed by previous tourist departments (and currently, some of our other parties).
In culture, our monthly art exhibitions and regular concerts will continue as always. In transport, Angel is trying to open bus routes from Mojácar to Turre, the Huercal Overa hospital and the Almería airport.

Lenox Napier gave a talk about the importance of belonging to Mojácar by saying that one must integrate and become part of our community. Try and practice saying: 'Yo Soy Mojaquero'. Lenox says he will be outside the Town Hall each Tuesday at 12.00am to help with padrón, voting registration and other concerns.

Crispin Welby from Arboleas gave a talk (in perfect Spanish), ably translated by Virginia, about the concerns in his town and why he intends to start the new independent party there. The sound and technical support came, as always, from Alan Sykes. Our thanks to them all.

October Meeting

Dear Friends, we can now say that we are at the beginning of the period of ‘intriga’ which is the forerunner of the run-up towards local elections, which will be held at the end of May 2011.
While other parties have never called on their supporters since the last weeks of the previous election back in 2007, Ciudadanos Europeos has held regular meetings and, we hope, has managed to answer and address some of the issues raised by members.
Our next meeting of Ciudadanos Europeos de Mojácar will be at the Hotel Continental (Mojácar Playa) on Saturday 9th October at 11.00am. All welcome (tell your friends). At the meeting, we hope to discuss progress on the issue of the builders’ cranes, news and plans about the ‘polideportivo’ (the sports centre) and also the state of play of the troublesome yet important ‘circunvalación’, the Mojácar ring-road.
And, of course, some comments on the current state of the ‘intriga’ – the plans and alliances that are slowly coalescing into next year’s crop of parties.
Questions and comments will, as always, be received.
We look forward to seeing you then.
Angel Medina and Lenox Napier

How to Register on the Padrón and How to Vote

REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE NEXT LOCAL ELECTIONS BY SIGNING ONTO THE PADRÓN AND CENSO ELECTORAL.
YOUR VOTE CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE!

In the 2007 local elections, nearly 80% of the eligible expats in Mojácar did not vote because they were NOT on the ELECTORAL ROLL (or Censo Electoral).
Who should register?
Expats who spend all or much of their time in Spain may register on the Padrón and Censo Electoral, yet many still have not done so. They may wrongly assume that the Padrón is a means of vigilance by the state. However, it is simply a way for the Town Hall to count those that live in their area, with no investigation as to a person’s official status or financial affairs. The information you provide is confidential and covered by data protection laws.
What are the benefits to YOU?
• You comply with legal requirements.
• Better public services; Central Government pays the local council €170 per person on the Padrón each year
• Access to benefits and social care; people on the Padrón aged 65 and over get free municipal bus passes and other benefits.
• A reduction in taxes; registration on the Padrón could mean reductions in Property Tax, certain community charges and inheritance tax.
• Voting rights for an easier life; you need your Padrón certificate to carry out various administrative tasks, such as registering for healthcare, registering your car with Spanish number plates or enrolling children in school. Remember: NO VOTE: NO VOICE.

ARE YOU ALREADY ON THE PADRÓN?
If “yes”, you are still NOT automatically entitled to vote. To vote, you must also sign onto the Censo Electoral (or the Electoral Roll). Your right to vote in Local (or Euro) elections is enshrined in Spanish and European law. Your vote will influence the type and style of local government. Expats may be required to renew their registration on the Electoral Roll; just check!
How do I register?
You can register on both the Padrón and Censo Electoral AT THE SAME TIME. You will need to take, to the Ayuntamiento the following documents: Passport OR Residencia + your last Rates receipt (I.B.I.) OR Water / Electric bill in your name OR your Escritura OR rental contract:

Need help?
The officials will help. Instructions in English, German and French are on the back of census form.

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE
on SUNDAY MAY 22nd 2011 in the LOCAL ELECTION
SIGN ON to the PADRÓN and CENSO ELECTORAL
Do it now. You may be TOO late in FEBRUARY 2011

Ciudadanos Europeos de Mojácar will shortly be announcing regular meetings to help with town hall paperwork.

June Meeting

We started today’s meeting by mentioning the new ‘senior’s amusement and exercise park’ at the Parque Comercial which has become a surprise hit. Angel also mentioned the new electric displays which list concerts and exhibitions. One at the Parque Comercial and the other – to be moved from the Plaza Nueva in the Pueblo and placed at the Fuente by the Centro de Usos Multiples (the Centro de Artesanía as it used to be called).
Owners of the inert cranes which dot our landscape are being traced and warned that they must have an official inspection on their cranes every six months and must hold insurance. The police are taking photos and fines as necessary. A list of all cranes in Mojácar will be available in two weeks time. Those cranes that can be ordered removed will be taken down at the owners’ cost.
The large and unfinished block of apartments at the beginning of C/ Vistamar is under an inquiry and some of the apartments may be demolished before the building can get a licence. The road surface of C/ Hilguero will be repaired in the next few days. The wild boar which have come down the mountain and are to be seen in the C/ Rumanía and surrounds will be ‘controlled’ by the Guardia Civil.
Our party puts residents first: that is, residence in front of tourism, said Angel Medina in his speech. Our goals are simple enough: Cleaning up, repairing and beautifying our municipality; keeping us safe (security cameras are going to be installed in the Pueblo soon); to open a new and more complete medical centre near the Petrol Station; to improve local public transport (and to inaugurate a regular bus service to/from the airport); to make Mojácar a good and comfortable place to live; to build a residence for the elderly (a site has been set aside for this) and to pedestrianise the Pueblo.
We need to think long-term and we will continue to hold regular meetings (unlike the other parties), said Angel.
It is not easy to be a junior partner in the government but, with more representation, we would have more ‘say’ over our town’s course. As the only party which represents the ‘European’ residents, we would hope for a higher turnout in the next elections from this group (only 13% of Mojácar’s ‘European’ Residents voted in 2005). To vote, you need to be on the padrón and to have asked for the right to vote, filling out a simple form. A copy of this can be downloaded here.
Angel explained the Coalition's reasoning behind the project to build a small underground car-park up near the church in the Pueblo – to be used solely by local pueblo residents to, in turn, encourage people to live – or to continue to live – in the village. This would improve the area, allowing the Plaza’s Arbollón and Frontón to return a ‘Moorish’ appearance; would finally bring back the Arco de Luciana (callously demolished several legislations ago); would reduce traffic there (currently around 350 cars per day pass the church); while the cost (paid out of ‘protected funds’) would be returned by local vehicle owners buying an eighty-year lease. Well, we'll see.
The meeting was covered by Jacqui from the Costa de Almería News – see next Friday’s edition.
Please feel free to write to us with ideas, comments and suggestions for next year’s program – Our mail address is:
ciudadanoseuropeosdemojacar (at) hotmail.com

Early Summer Meeting

There will be a meeting of Ciudadanos Europeos de Mojácar at the Hotel Continental on Saturday June 19th at 11.00am. The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Angel Medina and Lenox Napier.
Angel has placed two cultural information panels in Mojácar - in the Plaza Nueva and the Parque Comercial, and has ordered 'quitamiedos' metal barriers for the roads and streets of the Paratá which should be erected in late June. He will present a study of the builders' cranes (a request from an earlier meeting) and will order the removal of those which are not in use. He has ordered the removal of the large billboard outside the Mojácar pueblo square. He has other plans and accomplishments to relate and will, as always, be taking questions and suggestions.
All are welcome to attend.